Though most Pokemon fans are familiar with the Pokemon video games, the trading card game also has a loyal following. If you get swept in the card-collecting hobby, you’ll soon learn that not all cards are created equally, and some are significantly more expensive than others. Find one of these rare cards and you could become very wealthy, as collectors are willing to pay top dollar for some specimens.
If you’re wondering whether you’re sitting on a goldmine, consult this list to see if your Pokemon card collection has a few hidden gems.
6. Black Star Ishihara GX
A few cards are extremely valuable due to the circumstances of their creation. This is the case with the Ishihara GX card. Hardcore fans will recognize that name, as Tsunekazu Ishihara is The Pokemon Company‘s CEO. The card was created in 2017 to celebrate Ishihara’s 60th birthday. Copies of the card were distributed to staff, and one signed by the CEO sold for $247,230.
5. Tournament cards
Pokemon TCG players who are good enough can enter various tournaments and eventually stand a chance to become a world champion. Winners and runner-up contestants are typically given unique cards for their victory. These are some of the most valuable cards in Pokemon TCG, as very few of them are created.
One of the most valuable Pokemon TCG tournament cards is the Bronze Pikachu No. 3 Trainer Trophy card. It has caught the attention of collectors because only four were created, and they were distributed to the runner-ups in the first-ever Pokemon TCG tournament in 1997. It was sold for $300,000 this year.
The 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer card was distributed to the finalists of the Pokémon World Championships in 2006. Only three copies of the card are known to exist. The card depicts Pikachu holding a massive trophy.
4. Blastoise card
It may not get as much attention as Charizard, but Blastoise is also a beloved Pokemon. Only two copies of the rarest Blastoise card exist. They were created in 1998 as a presentation card for the Wizards of the Coast. In 2021, the card sold for $360,000 which makes it one of the most valuable cards of all time.
3. Charizard cards
When it comes to Pokemon, there are few that are as recognizable as Charizard. The orange dragon that’s technically not a dragon has appeared on a number of Pokemon cards, and some of them have gone on to become extremely valuable.
One of the rarest Charizard cards is the first edition card released in 1999. It won’t do you any favors in modern battles where power creep has left the card relatively weak, but it has become extremely valuable for its historic significance and rarity. According to the PSA, only 124 have been graded a 10. The Charizard Gold Star Delta Species Holo Dragon Frontiers is also highly sought after, and the PSA has only recorded 99 grade 10 specimens.
2. Pikachu cards
As the franchise mascot, it’s no surprise that Pikachu sits to high on the list. There are plenty of Pikachu cards to discover, but every so often, The Pokemon Company will release an incredibly rare card featuring the yellow rodent, and fans will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for it.
Collectors have sought the Japanese Pokémon XY-P Black Star Promo Pikachu card. It was distributed to attendees of the Pokémon 20th Anniversary Festa in 2016, making it extremely rare.
The most expensive Pikachu card, and the most expensive card in the franchise, is the Pikachu Illustrator. It is believed that 30 to 40 of these cards exist, though at present there is only one known to be graded a PSA 10. It belongs to Logan Paul, who bought it for $4 million and a PSA 9 of the same card. He had less luck when he spent $3.5 million expecting to receive unopened first-edition cards but got scammed instead.
1. 25th Anniversary Celebrity Collaborator Cards
In 2021, Pokemon enjoyed its 25th anniversary, and several celebrities joined in on the festivities. As a token of thanks, Post Malone, Katy Perry, and J Blavin were given one-of-a-kind V cards. Only one of each card exists, making them extremely valuable. Unfortunately, they’ll probably never enter the market, as the owners have no need to sell them, and Post Malone has publicly expressed his love of Pokemon TCG.
New to Pokemon TCG? Check out this guide to learn the basic rules of the game. You’ll also want to learn about which Pokemon TCG sets have been released so you’ll have a better idea of where to start collecting.
